Researchers have documented an unprecedented chemical pairing in a tiny fungus from Florida's swamps.
In an exciting finding, scientists discovered for the first time both a psychedelic compound and a potentially deadly poison in the same brown fungus, earning it the nickname the "dark magic mushroom."
Here's what to know
A study published in the peer-reviewed journal Current Biology identifies Galerina indica as the first fungus known to science to produce both amatoxins and psilocybin.
The University of Florida researchers investigating Florida mushrooms' chemical makeup gathered five specimens belonging to the genus Galerina. According to Live Science, the largest G. indica specimen measured roughly 0.2 inches tall, with a cap approximately 0.1 inches across. The specimens grew on palm trunks covered in moss.
The team's testing also identified an amatoxin never previously documented in mushrooms.
Andrew Kunik, the study's first author, explained to Live Science that "there is no species of mushroom anywhere, in any group, that has been known to produce both at the same time. So it's quite remarkable."
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The researchers explained in the study itself that "analyses suggest that G. indica acquired psilocybin biosynthesis via horizontal gene transfer after amatoxin biosynthesis was already estimated. These findings reveal how horizontal gene transfer can combine powerful bioactive systems in a single species, potentially altering the ecological roles of both compound classes and the evolutionary fitness of the species."
More research is needed to determine whether this strange combination of chemicals primarily functions as a defense mechanism.
Where can I learn more?
The Florida discovery adds an unusual twist to research on fungal toxins and psychedelic compounds.
• In China, scientists discovered a nearly 5-pound fungus requiring a new fungal family.
• In Michigan, brain scans showed psychedelics and anesthesia pushing consciousness signals in opposite directions.
• A Queensland snake call revealed a fatal fungal disease described as horrifically contagious.
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